J~,  2L  2L  . 


from  f  0e  feifimt^  of 

(professor  TWfiam  ^enrg  (Breen 

(J&equectf0eb  6g  0im  to 
f0e  feifirars  of 

(ptinceton  tfcofogicaf  ^eminarg 


BV  4501 

.H46  1879 

Henry, 

Matthew,  1662- 

-1714 

Words  encouraging  to 

right 

faith 

and  conduct  selected 

LIBRARY  OF  PRINCETON 


OCT      3  2003 


THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


WORDS 


ENCOURAGING  TO  RIGHT  FAITH  AND  CONDUCT 


SELECTED  FROM 


The  Writings  of  Matthew  Henry 


v 

JOHN    S.  SHERMAN 


BY 


LIBRARY  OF  PRINCETOr 


OCT      3  2003 


THEOLOGICAL  SEMINAR 


PUBLISHED     BY    THE    AUTHOR 

1879 


Copyright 

1879 

By  John  S.  Sherman 


PREFACE. 

Matthew  Henry  was  an 
English  divine  who  wrote  in 
the  eighteenth  century,  distin- 
guished for  his  devotional  spirit, 
practical  piety,  sound  common 
sense,  and  intelligent  views  of 
the  teachings  of  the  Bible.  In 
view  of  the  life  and  character  of 
so  good  and  gifted  a  person,  it 
is  hoped  these  selections  will  be 
received  with  favor,  displace 
reading  that  is  frivolous,  correct 
that  which  is  erroneous,  and 
tend  to  true  religion.  Some  of 
the  sentences  will  find  response 
in  many  minds. 


WORDS  OF  ENCOURAGEMENT. 


Let  us  acknowledge  God  in 
the  constant  succession  of  day 
and  night,  and  consecrate  both 
to  his  honor,  by  working  for 
him  every  day,  and  resting  in 
him  every  night;  and  meditating 

in  his  law  day  and  night. 

•♦♦ — ' — 

The  Scriptures  were  written, 

not  to  gratify  our  curiosity,  and 

make    us    astronomers,    but    to 

lead  us  to   God,  and  make  us 

saints. 

■  »♦ . 

Mercies  restored  are  much 
more  affecting  than  mercies  con- 
tinued. 


WORDS   OF 


Though  we  must  not  tempt 
God  in  the  neglect  of  means, 
yet  we  must  trust  God  in  the 
want  of  means. 


Let  us  always  think  well  of 
God  as  the  best  good,  and  think 
sin  to  be  the  worst  of  evils.  Let 
us  "  resist  the  devil,  and  he  will 
flee  from  us." 


The  Hebrew  doctors  give  it 
for  a  general  rule,  that  every- 
thing that  is  for  the  name  of 
the  good  God  must  be  the 
goodliest  and  best. 

It  is  better  to  fear  and  not 
sin,  than  sin  and  then  fear. 


EN  CO  URA  GEMENT.  7 

When  a  bad  custom  is  begun 

by    bad    men,    sometimes    men 

of  better  character  are,  through 

unwariness,  drawn  in  to  follow 

them. 

>♦• 

They  that  would  not  eat  for- 
bidden fruit,  must  not  come 
near  the  forbidden  tree. 


Sin  is  a  brat  that  nobody  is 
willing  to  own. 


That  which  is  to  be  aimed 
at,  in  all  acts  of  religion,  is 
Gods  acceptance. 


He  that  feeds  his  birds  will 
not  starve  his  babes. 


WORDS  OF 


Let  us  never  displease  God, 
by  doing  any  act  which  is 
wrong,  to  please  the  best  friend 
in  the  world. 


To  prevent  our  being  uneasy 
at  the  restraints  of  religion,  it  is 
good  often  to  take  a  view  of 
the  liberties  and  comforts  of  it. 


How  careful  should  we  be, 
as  we  live  on  Gods  bounty,  to 
live  to  his  glory. 


None  are  ruined  by  the  jus- 
tice of  God,  but  those  who  hate 
to  be  reformed  by  the  grace  of 
God. 


EKCO  URA  GEMENT. 


If  we  graciously  rest  in  God, 
God  will  graciously  work  for 
us,  and  work  all  for  good. 


If  sinners  will  but  consider 
where  they  are,  they  will  not 
rest  till  they  turn  to  God. 


It  is  a  certain  sign  of  an  un- 
humbled  heart,  to  quarrel  with 
those  rebukes  which  we  have, 
by  our  sins,  brought  upon  our- 
selves. 

»■»• 

God  will  graciously  bless — 
that  is,  do  well — to  them  who 
sincerely  bless — that  is,  speak 
well  of  him. 


IO  WORDS  OF 

He  was  content  to  forego  the 
privileges  of  religion,  that  he 
might  not  be  under  its  precepts. 


The  rainbow  is  the  reflection 
of  the  beams  of  the  sun,  which 
intimates  that  all  the  glory,  and 
significancy,  of  the  seals  of 
the  covenant  are  derived  from 
Christ,  the  Sun  of  Righteous- 
ness, who  also  is  described  with 
a  rainbow  about  his  throne. 


Though  Divine  curses  ope- 
rate slowly,  yet  first  or  last  they 
will  take  effect ;  many  are  marked 
for  ruin  that  are  not  yet  ripe 
for  ruin. 


ENCO  URA  GEM  EN  T.  1 1 

In  all  our  choices,  this  prin- 
ciple should  overrule  us,  that 
this  is  best  for  us,  that  is  best 
for  our  souls. 


Those  that  venture  in  a  good 
cause,  with  a  good  heart,  are 
under  the  special  protection  of 


a  good  God. 


It  will  greatly  help  both  our 
faith  and  our  reverence  in  prayer 
to  eye  God  as  the  Most  High 
God,  and  to  call  him  so. 


It  is  good  to  learn  of  others 
how  to  order  our  speech  concern- 
ing God,  and  to  imitate  those 
who  speak  well  in  divine  things. 


12  WORDS  OF 

An  active  believer  can  heartily 
bless  God  for  a  promise  he  does 
not  yet  see  the  performance  of; 
and  build  an  altar  to  the  honor  of 
God,  who  appears  to  him  though 
he  does  not  appeary^r  him. 

As  piety  is  a  friend  to  out- 
ward prosperity,  so  outward 
prosperity,  if  well  managed,  is 
an  ornament  to  piety,  and  an 
opportunity  of  doing   so  much 

more  good. 

— — .♦. 

God  Almighty  never  did,  nor 
ever  will,  do  any  wrong  to  any 
of  the  creatures,  either  by  with- 
holding that  which  is  right,  or 
by  exacting  more  than  is  right. 


ENCO  URA  GEMENT.  I  3 

The  gifts  of  common  provi- 
dences are  not  comparable  to 
those  of  covenant  love. 


Those  do  not  rightly  value 
the  advantage  of  their  covenant 
relation  to  God,  and  interest  in 
him,  who  do  not  think  it  to 
balance  the  want  of  any  created 
comfort  whatever. 


It    is    a    dangerous    thing  to 

make    light    of   Divine    institu- 

tions,  and  to  live  in  the  neglect 

of  them. 

— «-»>• — 

Those  who  would  have  com- 
munion with  God  must  earnest- 
ly desire  it  and  pray  for  it. 


1 4  WORDS  OF 

It  is  hard  to  cleave  to  the 
First  Cause,  when  second  causes 
frown. 


Those   only  can    expect    the 

blessings  of  the    promises  who 

make  conscience  of  their  duty. 
— »-+« — 

Those  who,  through  grace,  are 
themselves  delivered  out  of  a  sin- 
ful state,  should  do  what  they 
can  for  the  deliverance  of  others. 


He  that  is  the  Saviour,  will 
be  the  Destroyer  of  those  who 

reject  the  salvation. 

•+* 

Our  communion  with  God 
is  to  be  kept  up  in  providences 
as  well  as  in  ordinances. 


ENCO  URA  GEM  EN  T.  1 5 

Those  who  have  turbulent 
spirits,  have  commonly  trouble- 
some lives;  they  that  are  pro- 
voking and  injurious  to  others, 
must  expect  to  be  repaid  in  their 

own  coin. 

—~ 

It  is  a  great  mercy  to  be  hin- 
dered from  committing  sin.  Of 
this  God  must  have  the  glory, 
whoever  is  the  instrument. 


Those  whom  God  has  con- 
vinced of  sin  and  danger,  ought 
to  tell  others  what  God  has 
done  for  them,  that  they  also 
may  be  awakened,  and  brought 
to  a  like  holy  fear. 


1 6  WORDS  OF 

It  is  our  wisdom  to  get  and 
keep  an  interest  with  those  who 
have  an  interest  in  heaven,  and 
to  make  those  our  friends  who 
are  the  friends  of  God. 


God's  providences  look  best 
and  brightest  when  they  are 
compared  with  his  word,  and 
when  we  observe  how  God  in 
them  all  acts  as  he  has  said,  as 
he  has  spoken. 


Gods  promises  and  our  ex- 
periences are  sufficient  to  en- 
courage our  dependence  upon 
God,  and  our  expectation  from 
him,  in  all  the  affairs  of  this  life. 


EN  CO  URA  GEMENT.  I  7 

It  is  presumptuous  to  say 
that  all  those  who  are  left  out 
of  the  eternal  dispensation  of 
God's  covenant  are  therefore 
excluded  from  all  his  mercies : 
those  may  be  saved  who  are 
not  thus  honored. 


God  will  cause  that  to  issue 
in  our  comfort  in  which  we  sin- 
cerely aim  at  his  glory. 


It  is  the  comfort  as  well  as 
the  belief  of  a  good  man  that 
Gods  providence  extends  itself 
to  the  smallest  occurrences,  and 
admirably  serves  its  own  pur- 
poses by  them. 


1 8  WORDS  OF 

What  we  win  by  prayer  we 
must  wear  with  praise,  for  mer- 
cies in  answer  to  prayer  lay  us 
under  particular  obligation. 


Those  that  are  our  people 
while  we  live,  whether  the  peo- 
ple of  God  or  the  children  of 
this  world,  are  the  people  to 
whom  death  will  gather  us. 


The  intrinsic  worth  of  Gods 
promises  cannot  be  lessened  in 
a  believer's  eye  by  any  cross 
providences. 


Truth    is    the    daughter    of 
time,  and  in  time  it  will  out. 


EN  CO  URA  GEM  EN  T.  1 9 

While  there  is  such  an  alloy 
of  sin  as  there  is  in  our  duties, 
we  must  expect  an  alloy  of 
trouble  in  our  comforts. 


Sometimes  it  is  requisite  that 
a  reproof  should  be  given  warm, 
like  a  physical  potion,  not  too 
hot  lest  it  scald  the  patient,  yet 
not  cold  lest  it  prove  ineffectual. 


Those  who  are  ever  so  careful 

to  keep  a  good  conscience,  yet 

cannot  always  be  sure  of  a  good 

name. 

»♦« 

Providence  has  ways  of  mak- 
ing those  honest  in  the  event 
that  are  not  so  in  their  designs. 


20  WORDS  OF 

Bad    men  will    do    more   to 

serve  their  sinful  passions,  than 

good  men  will  to  serve  their  just 

affections. 

—— 

The  safety  of  good  men  is 
very  much  owing  to  the  hold 
God  has  of  the  consciences  of 
bad  men,  and  the  access  he  has 

to  them. 

•♦♦ 

Those  who  will  do  nothing 
to  make  themselves  amiable, 
love  to  be  thought  formidable. 


Where  we  have  a  tent,  God 
must  have  an  altar;  where  we 
have  a  house,  he  must  have  a 
church  in  it. 


EN  CO  URA  GEM  EN  T.  2 1 

A  lively  apprehension  of  dan- 
ger, and  a  quickening  fear  aris- 
ing from  it,  may  very  well  con- 
sist in  a  humble  confidence  in 
God's  power  and  promise. 


God  answers  our  prayers  by 
teaching  us  to  order  our  affairs 
with  discretion. 


Many  preserve  themselves  by 

humbling  themselves ;  the  bullet 

flies  over  him  that  stoops. 
- — »+* — 

The  interest  we  have  in  any 
persons,  and  the  hold  we  have 
of  them,  should  be  wisely  im- 
proved by  us  to  bring  them  to 
the  love  and  practice  of  religion. 


2  2  WORDS  OF 

Things  never  go  well  when 
the  authority  of  a  parent  runs 
low  in  the  family. 


Human  life  begins  with  sor- 
row, and  the  roses  of  its  joy  are 
surrounded  with  thorns. 


The  laying  up  of  Gods  ora- 
cles in  our  hearts  will  be  of  excel- 
lent use  to  us  in  all  our  conduct. 


We  are  bound  in  honor,  as 
well  as  justice  and  gratitude, 
not  in  anything  to  injure  those 
who  have  a  good  opinion  of  us, 
and  place  a  trust  in  us,  how 
secret  soever  it  may  be  done. 


ENCOURAGEMENT.  23 

When  we  are  called  to  vindi- 
cate ourselves,  we  should  care- 
fully avoid  as  much  as  may  be 

speaking  ill  of  others. 
— •♦• — 

See  how  near  sorrow  and  joy 
are  to  each  other  in  this  world, 
when  tears  serve  for  the  expres- 
sion of  both. 


It  is  our  wisdom  to  reconcile 
ourselves  to  the  sorest  afflictions 
and  make  the  best  of  them,  for 
there  is  nothing  got  by  striving 
with  our  Maker. 


Tears  of  tenderness  and  affec- 
tion are  no  disparagement  at  all, 
even  to  good  and  wise  men. 


24  WORDS  OF 

Indecent  words  spoken  in 
haste  to  our  superiors  should  be 
recalled  and  amended. 


Wealth  sometimes  brings  as 
much  care  along  with  it  as  want, 
and  more  too. 


It  is  better  to  be  the  credit  of 
a  mean  post  than  the  shame  of 


a  high  one, 


Our  comforts  then  are  doubly 
sweet  to  us  when  we  see  them 


coming  from  God. 


Those  that  throw  away  their 
virtue  must  not  expect  to  save 
their  reputation. 


ENCOURAGEMENT.  25 

Young   people  would  better 

consult   their    own    interest    if 

they  would    less    indulge    their 

own  wills. 

»♦• 

The  lot  of  God's  providence 
exactly  agrees  with  the  plans 
of  God's  counsel  like  a  true  copy 
of  the  original. 


Those  who  would  be  fearless 
must  keep  themselves  guiltless. 


Men  know  not  what  they  do 
or  what  enemies  they  are  to 
their  own  interest,  when  they 
resist  and  despise  faithful  re- 
proofs and  reprovers. 


26  WORDS  OF 

It  is  rare  that  those  that  are 
most  amiable  to  their  friends  are 
most  formidable  to  their  ene- 
mies. 


God's  covenant  relation  to  us 
as  our  own  God  is  the  best  sup- 
port in  the  worst  of  times. 

— •-*-* — 

Whom  God  by  his  grace  de- 
livers out  of  a  spiritual  Egypt 
he  will  bring  to  a  heavenly 
Canaan. 

It  is  a  good  sign  that  God  is 
coming  with  deliverance  when 
he  inclines  and  enables  us  to 
cry  to  him  for  it. 


EN  CO  URA  GEMENT.  2  7 

In  times  of  extreme  difficulty 
it  is  good  to  venture  upon  the 
promises  of  God. 


Those  who  have  had  a  liberal 
education,  yet  should  not  be 
strangers  to  servile  work,  because 
they  know  not  what  necessity 
may  be  put  on  them  for  working 
for  themselves,  or  what  oppor- 
tunity Providence  may  give  them 
of  being  serviceable  to  others. 


If  God  gives  us  an  oppor- 
tunity and  a  heart  to  serve  him, 
it  is  a  happy  and  encouraging 
earnest  of  further  favors  designed 
us. 


28  WORDS  OF 

Even  self-diffidence,  when  it 
grows  into  an  extreme,  when 
it  either  hinders  us  from  duty 
or  discourages  our  dependence 
upon  the  grace  of  God,  is  very 
displeasing  to  him. 


Solitude  has  its  advantages, 
but  they  seldom  balance  the 
loss  of  Christian  communion. 


When  we  return  to  God  in 
the  way  of  duty,  he  will  return 
to  us  in  a  way  of  mercy. 


The  sufficiency  of  grace  can 
supply  the  defects  of  nature  at 
any  time. 


ENCOURAGEMENT.  29 

By  indulging  ourselves  in  dis- 
content and  fretfulness  we  de- 
prive ourselves  of  the  comfort 
we  might  have  both  from  Gods 
word  and  from  his  providence. 


Communion  with  God  and 
serviceableness  to  his  church 
are  things  that  above  any  other 
put  true  honor  upon  men. 


Peace  with  God  makes  men 
thunder-proof,  for  it  is  the  voice 
of  their  Father. 


Nature  is  contented  with  lit- 
tle, grace  with  less,  but  lust  with 


nothing. 


30  WORDS  OF 

True  penitents  lament  sin  as 
committed  against  God,  even 
their  own  God,  to  whom  they 
stand  obliged. 


We  must  come  up  to  the  de- 
mands of  God's  will,  for  we 
cannot  expect  he  should  to  the 
provisions  of  our  lusts. 


To  be  angry  at  nothing  but 
sin,  is   the  way  not    to    sin    in 


anger. 


We  may  be  in  the  way  of 
our  duty,  following  God  and 
hastening  toward  heaven,  and 
yet  may  be  in  great  straits, 
"  troubled  on  every  side." 


EN  CO  URA  GEM  EN  T.  3 1 

When  our  heads  are  fullest 
of  cares,  and  our  hands  of  busi- 
ness, yet  we  must  not  forget  our 
religion  nor  suffer  ourselves  to 
be  indisposed  for  acts  of  devo- 
tion. 

Our  constant  endeavor  should 
be,  by  praising  Gods  name  and 
serving  his  interest,  to  exalt  God, 
and  it  is  an  advancement  to  us 
to  be  so  employed. 


The  God  of  Nature  has  not 
tied  himself  to  its  laws,  but 
when  he  pleases  dispenses  with 
them,  and  then  fire  does  not 
burn  nor  the  water  flow. 


WORDS  OF 


It  is  a  great  provocation  to 
God  for  us  to  question  his  pres- 
ence, providence,  or  promises. 


Whatever  we  have    the  joy 

of,  God  must    have  the  praise 

of  it. 

•♦> 

We  must  retain  the  remem- 
brance of  God's  works  that  we 
may  remain  under  the  influence 
of  God's  laws. 


The  pleasures  of  sense  are 
puddle  water — spiritual  delights 
are  rock  water,  so  pure,  so 
clear,  so  refreshing,  rivers  of 
pleasure! 


ENCOURAGEMENT.  33 

It  tends  much  to  the  encour- 
agement of  faith  to  reflect  upon 
the  great  things  God  has  done 
for  us,  and  review  the  monu- 
ments of  his  favor. 


Mutual  friendship  is  sancti- 
fied by  joint  worship. 

♦♦• 

Wisdom  is  profitable  to  direct, 
that  we  may  neither  content 
ourselves  with  less  than  our  duty, 
nor  overtask  ourselves  with  that 

which  is  beyond  our  strength. 

— —— — 

The  fear  of  God  is  that  prin- 
ciple which  will  best  fortify  a 
man  from  all  temptations  to  in- 
justice. 


34  WORDS  OF 

We  ought  to  be  tender  of 
the  lives  even  of  bad  men ;  the 
magistrate  must  right  us,  and 
we  must  not  avenge  ourselves. 


It  is  at  our  peril  if  we  break 
the  bounds  that  God  has  set  us, 
and  venture  upon  that  he  has 
not  allowed  us. 


Those  who  would  be  kept 
free  from  sin  must  keep  them- 
selves from  the  occasion  of  it. 


If  we  unjustly  get  and  keep 
that  which  is  another's,  it  will 
not  only  waste  itself,  but  it  will 
consume  that  which  is  our  own. 


ENCOURAGEMENT.  35 

Public  persons  are  then  pub- 
lic blessings  when  they  lay  out 
themselves  in  their  places  to 
promote  the  public  worship  of 

God. 

•♦• 

General  usage  will  not  excuse 
us  in  a  bad  practice. 


Good  princes  find  their  gov- 
ernment a  constant  care,  and 
their  people  find   it  a  constant 

blessing. 

— •-*-• — 

Our  daily  devotions  must  be 
looked  upon  as  the  most  need- 
ful of  our  daily  works,  and  the 
most  pleasant  of  our  daily  com- 
forts. 


36  WORDS  OF 

Our  two  great  concerns  with 
God  are  to  be  acquitted  from 
guilt  and  accepted  as  righteous 
in  his  sight. 


God  will  not  fail  to  give  those 
the  meeting  who  diligently  and 
conscientiously  attend  upon  him 
in  the  ordinances  of  his  appoint- 
ment. 

Skill  in  common  arts  and  em- 
ployments is  the  gift  of  God,  and 
from  him  are  both  the  faculty 
and    the    improvement    of    the 

faculty. 

»♦« 

The  malignity  of  sin  appears 
in  the  price  of  pardon. 


ENCO  URA  GEM  EN  T.  3  7 

In  God  we  see  nothing  but 

what    is   pure  and  pleasant;  in 

the  world,  nothing  but  pollution 

and  provocation. 

•♦* — 

Gods  good  work  in  us  is  the 
surest  discovery  of  his  good  will 
toward  us. 


Calls  to  repentance  are  plain 

indications  of  mercy  designed. 
•♦• 

When  God  designs  mercies 
he  stirs  up  to  prayer. 


Fixed  views  of  God  are  re- 
served for  the  future  state ;  the 
best  we  have  in  this  world  are 
transient. 


3&  WORDS  OF 

How  easily  can  God  weaken 
the  strongest,  befool  the  wisest, 
and  baffle  the  most  watchful. 


Munificence    recommends    a 
man  more  than  magnificence. 


When  the  heart  is  enlarged 
by  cheerfulness,  that  should  open 
the  hand  to  liberality. 


Every  transgression  in  the 
covenant  will  not  throw  us  out 
of  covenant. 


The  observance  of  the  laws  of 
Christ  cannot  be  less  necessary 
than  that  of  the  laws  of  Moses. 


ENCOURAGEMENT.  39 

Those  that  would  offer  ac- 
ceptable sacrifices  to  God  must 
separate  themselves  from  the 
wicked  and  profane. 


They  that  hate  to  be  refined 
by  the  fire  of  divine  grace  will 
undoubtedly  be  ruined  by  the 
fire  of  divine  wrath. 


Mere    mercy    itself  will    not 

save  without  the  interposal  of  a 

mediator. 

*♦* 

We  are  not  allowed  to  pick 
and  choose  our  duties,  but  must 
aim  at  standing  complete  in  all 
the  will  of  God. 


40  WORDS  OF 

If  the  eye  of  our  faith  be  unto 

God,  the  eye  of  his  favor  will  be 

unto  us. 

— »*-• — 

It  is  good  having  fellowship 

with  those  that  have  fellowship 

with  God,  and  going  with  those 

with  whom  God  is. 


Difficulties  that  lie  in  the  way 
of  salvation  dwindle  and  vanish 
before  a  lively,  active  faith  in  the 

power  and  promise  of  God. 

— *+— — 

If  we  would  share  in  divine 
joys,  we  must  carefully  follow 
the  divine  conduct. 


Everything    that   grieves    us 


should  bring  us  to  God, 


ENCO  URA  GEM EN T.  4 1 

Others' sufferings  for  our  sakes 
should  grieve  us  more  than  our 
own. 


Let  us  be  constant  to  our 
duty,  and  we    cannot    question 

the  constancy  of  God's  mercy. 

•♦• 

The  way  to  have  the  comfort 
in  what  God  allows  us  is  to  for- 
bear what  he  forbids  us. 


All  methods  of  accommoda- 
tion must  be  used  before  we  go 
to  war  or  law. 


Nor  must  those  seem  vile  in 
our  sight  to  whom,  for  aught  we 
know,  God  may  yet  give  grace 
to  make  precious  in  his  sight. 


42  WORDS  OF 

Let  our  tongues  be  employed 
about  the  word  of  God,  let  it  be 
the  subject  of  our  familiar  dis- 
course, wherever  we  are,  espe- 
cially with  our  children,  who 
must  be  taught  the  service  of 
God  as  the  one  thing  needful, 
much  more  needful  than  the 
rules  of  decency  or  the  calling 

they  must  live  by  in  this  world. 
++-• — 

That  obedience  pleases  best 

which   comes   from  a   principle 

of  delight  in  God's  goodness. 
»♦♦ — - 

Modesty  is  the  hedge  of  chas- 
tity, and  therefore  ought  to  be 
very  carefully  preserved  and  kept 
up  by  both  sexes. 


EN  CO  URA  GEM  EN  T. 


The  way  to  obtain  peace  with 

our  friends,  and  success  against 

our  enemies,  is  to  make  God  our 

friend  and  keep  ourselves  in  his 

love. 

«♦« 

While  we  make  Gods  pre- 
cepts our  rule,  his  promise  our 
stay,  and  his  providences  our 
guide,  we  need  not  dread  the 
greatest  difficulties  we  may  meet 
with  in  the  way  of  duty. 

God  is  pleased  with  willing 
worship,  but  not  with  will  wor- 
ship. 

— —-• 

God  is  a  friend  that  will  not 
fail  us  when  other  friends  do. 


44  WORDS  OF 

We  must  make  that  most  our 
own  which  we  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  honoring  God  with, 
and  employing  in  his  service. 


We  must  never  be  overcome 
either  by  majesty  or  multitude 
to    do    a    sinful    thing,    or    go 


against  conscience. 


A  charitable  disposition  ex- 
pects only  opportunity,  not  im- 
portunity, to  do  good,  and  will 

succor  upon  sight  unsought  unto. 
*■*■* 

We  must  never  think  well  of 

that  which  God  in  his  law  frowns 

upon,  though  in  his  providence 

he  seems  to  smile  upon  it. 


ENCOURAGEMEX  T.  45 

The  springs  of  mercy  are  al- 
ways full,  the  streams  of  mercy 
are  always  flowing ;  there  is 
mercy  enough  in  God,  enough 
for  all,  enough  for  each,  enough 

forever. 

»♦« 

Let  us  check  all  sinful  desires 

in  our  own  hearts  against  God 

and    his    glory,  and  then    trust 

him  to  check  all  sinful  desires  in 

the  hearts  of  others   against  us 

and  our  interests. 


Gracious  persons  measure 
their  comforts  and  conveniences 
in  this  world  by  the  opportunity 
they  give  them  of  communion 
with  God. 


46  WORDS  OF 

Our  religious  services  are  not 
acceptable  to  God  if  they  have 
not  a  due  influence  upon  our- 
selves. 

»♦« 

To  reduced  greatness,  gene- 
rosity obliges  us ;  to  oppressed 
goodness,  piety  obliges  us  to  be 
in  a  particular  manner  kind  to 
the  utmost  of  our  power. 


If  a  great  man  be  a  good  man, 
his  goodness  will  be  much  more 
his  satisfaction  than  his  great- 
ness. 


If  we  in  sincerity  offer  our 
hearts  to  God,  he  will  by  his 
grace  kindle  holy  fire  in  them. 


EN  CO  URA  GEM  EN  T.  4  7 

The  ruin  of  the  enemies  of 
Christ's  kingdom  is  as  sure  as 
the  stability  of  his  kingdom,  and 
both  as  sure  as  the  being  and 
life  of  God,  the  founder  of  it. 


When  we  are  ma^nifvinsj  the 
causes  of  our  fear,  we  ought  to 
possess  ourselves  with  clear  and 
great  and  high  thoughts  of  God 
and  the  invisible  world ! 


48      WORDS  OF  ENCOURAGEMENT. 

I. 

Our  Heavenly  Father's  gracious  word — 
Though  foes   assail  and  want  is  nigh — 

Says  that  his  people  are  to  him 
Dear  as  the  apple  of  his  eye. 

II. 

So  then  we  would  in  covenant 

Join  ourselves  in  love,  O  God,  to  thee  ; 
Take  thine  anointed  Christ  as  ours, 

And  thy  dear  people  ever  be. 

III. 

Then,  be  clouds  or  sunshine 

With  us  all  our  way  along, 
We  may  believe  we  shall  be  led, 

And  join  at  length  the  heavenly  throng. 


JOHN  S.  SHERMAN, 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


